To avert defeat on Election Day, the Republican Party must focus on national issues. Former Speaker of the House, Tip O’Neill, coined the phrase “all politics is local.” While this may be true for Democrats, history tells us the opposite is true for Republicans, whose candidates win when they run on national issues rooted in principles of liberty.

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Newt Gingrich and the “Republican Revolution” of 1994 are a case study in what happens when Republicans stick to big ideas. The “Contract with America” addressed major national issues like the budget and deficit, and stood in stark contrast to the lack of an appealing and coherent policy agenda by the Democrats. It also gave Republican candidates a national issue platform to focus on during the 1994 midterms. With this strong policy agenda as a rallying cry, the Republicans were able to retake the House and wield significant influence over the Clinton administration.

Republican leadership in Congress should take note. The “Republican Revolution” was successful in the long term because Republican ideologues governed on the promises made in the “Contract with America.” They stood on principle and took action. They kept their pledge to the American people, and voters rewarded them at the ballot box.

This hollow approach to leadership is not going to cut it anymore. The Republican base does not want any more “balanced budget” show votes, “ObamaCare lite” health care proposals, or bloated omnibus spending bills written in secret. They want to see action on the small government campaign promises made repeatedly by Republicans.

The broken budget process is a glaring example of short game partisanship that frustrates voters. Every year, the leadership in Congress decides on a budget busting omnibus spending bill behind closed doors, and every year the national debt increases. All this happens with Republicans at the helm. Is this the party of fiscal responsibility?

Like Gingrich did with the “Contract with America,” Jordan is running on a platform of national issues rooted in the Republican principles of fiscal responsibility. Like the 1994 party revolutionaries, Jordan is recognized by his colleagues as a fighter who makes the tough floor votes to cut spending and to limit the scope of the federal government.

These ideological principles drive Republican voter turnout at the polls. They did so in 1994, and they still do today. If Republicans can bridge the gap between how they campaign and how they govern, they will energize the base and pave the road to victory in November. If Republicans elect Jordan as Speaker and embrace his agenda of spending cuts, welfare reform, border security, and ObamaCare repeal, they will keep the House and lay the foundation for sweeping majorities in 2020 and beyond.